Wine of the Week
Chateau Labadie - Medoc - 2005
Wine Time!
This Canada Day I found a real gem. I was at Everything Wine in North Vancouver, and doing my usual quick run into the store (45-60 min). In the Bordeaux section of France I found this 2005 Medoc from Chateau Labadie for around $32. I usually don't spend that much on a Wednesday wine, but a ten year old wine from Bordeaux for just over $30 is a hard find, I'm in!
First a Bordeaux primer as it can be quite confusing. Bordeaux is primarily split into 2 regions split by the Girande River. The Left Bank, which tends to be Cab Sauv based, and the Right Bank, which tends to be Merlot based. Almost all Bordeaux wines are blends and are some of the most prestigious, expensive and sought after wines in the world.There are 13 grapes permitted by law but the most common are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and sometimes Malbec and Carmenere for the reds. For the whites you will see Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
Left Bank main Appellations: Right Bank main Appellations:
Medoc & Graves Saint-Emilion & Pomerol
Within these appellations lie many Chateau's that have all been ranked according to their quality level. The original classification system was implemented in 1855 on the request of Napoleon while prepping for the world's fair (except Saint-Emillion is classified separate). Most of it hasn't changed since then. I could go on all day about the differences in the classifications, and nuances between each region, but that is for another time.
2005 was a great Vintage for Medoc, was the best of the decade until 2009, so these wines are just starting to drink well now and are usually priced a lot higher. This producers vineyards are planted with 42% Merlot, 51% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Split between clay limestone soils, and well draining gravel soils. This wine is also a Cru Bougeois classified wine; which any Medoc Chateau can submit a wine for review. The wine has to be submitted each and every year to get this higher quality labeling term.
This Chateau Labadie had nice aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, with some slightly toasted dried herbs with a hint of spice. The colour was well into the garnet spectrum showing age with some nice earthy tobacco notes and a long mouth watering finish.
If you are looking to treat yourself to a nice bottle,or want to see what an entry level Bordeaux wine tastes like; this is a good place to start. Since this is labeled Medoc AC all the grapes had to come from the Medoc region. You can find some cheaper general Bordeaux wines. These will simply be labeled Bordeaux AC, or Bordeaux Superieur AC and can come from anywhere in Bordeaux. These wines tend to be thin without much complexity and are Merlot dominated. The Superieur wines will have a slightly higher alcohol level.
.....more on Bordeaux some other day, thanks again for reading!
Devon
This Canada Day I found a real gem. I was at Everything Wine in North Vancouver, and doing my usual quick run into the store (45-60 min). In the Bordeaux section of France I found this 2005 Medoc from Chateau Labadie for around $32. I usually don't spend that much on a Wednesday wine, but a ten year old wine from Bordeaux for just over $30 is a hard find, I'm in!First a Bordeaux primer as it can be quite confusing. Bordeaux is primarily split into 2 regions split by the Girande River. The Left Bank, which tends to be Cab Sauv based, and the Right Bank, which tends to be Merlot based. Almost all Bordeaux wines are blends and are some of the most prestigious, expensive and sought after wines in the world.There are 13 grapes permitted by law but the most common are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and sometimes Malbec and Carmenere for the reds. For the whites you will see Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
Left Bank main Appellations: Right Bank main Appellations:
Medoc & Graves Saint-Emilion & Pomerol
Within these appellations lie many Chateau's that have all been ranked according to their quality level. The original classification system was implemented in 1855 on the request of Napoleon while prepping for the world's fair (except Saint-Emillion is classified separate). Most of it hasn't changed since then. I could go on all day about the differences in the classifications, and nuances between each region, but that is for another time.
2005 was a great Vintage for Medoc, was the best of the decade until 2009, so these wines are just starting to drink well now and are usually priced a lot higher. This producers vineyards are planted with 42% Merlot, 51% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Split between clay limestone soils, and well draining gravel soils. This wine is also a Cru Bougeois classified wine; which any Medoc Chateau can submit a wine for review. The wine has to be submitted each and every year to get this higher quality labeling term.
This Chateau Labadie had nice aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, with some slightly toasted dried herbs with a hint of spice. The colour was well into the garnet spectrum showing age with some nice earthy tobacco notes and a long mouth watering finish.
If you are looking to treat yourself to a nice bottle,or want to see what an entry level Bordeaux wine tastes like; this is a good place to start. Since this is labeled Medoc AC all the grapes had to come from the Medoc region. You can find some cheaper general Bordeaux wines. These will simply be labeled Bordeaux AC, or Bordeaux Superieur AC and can come from anywhere in Bordeaux. These wines tend to be thin without much complexity and are Merlot dominated. The Superieur wines will have a slightly higher alcohol level.
.....more on Bordeaux some other day, thanks again for reading!
Devon
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